Joint construction for concrete roads



March 7, 1939. 5 KLE|N 2,149,396

JOINT CONSTRUCTION FOR CONCRETE ROADS Filed Dec. 20, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheetl Man W049 3 amuel/(lein March 7, 1939. 5 KLE|N JOINT CONSTRUCTION FORCONCRETE ROADS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 20, 1954 jdmuelrlein my rtMarch 7, 1939. 5 KLElN 2,149,396

JOINT CONSTRUCTION FOR CONCRETE ROADS Filed Dec. 20, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet3 jamael Klein I Patented Mar. 7, 1939 JOINT CNS'1'RUR0gI0N-F0R CONCRETEADS ' Samuel Klein, Chicago, Ill., assignor to National Road JointManufacturing Company, Chicago.

111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 20, 1934. SerialNo.- 758,458

.1 11 Claims. ('01. 94-18) This invention relates to means for formingtransverse and longitudinal joints in concrete roads and is concernedwith problems similar to those disclosed and claimed in my copendingapplication 'Serial'78,845, filed May 9, 1936.

An object of the invention --is to'providean improvedtransverse'expansion joint form having permanent structural meanstherewith for maintaining clear the air space w th the oint form.

Another object is to provide a transverse ex-I pansion joint formcomprising means -for permanently closing the ends of the form to preaclude entry of foreign material. into the space between the wall forms.v

Another object of the invention is to provide means for forming masticroad edge joints.

Another object of the invention is the provisionof a novel form ofconcrete road umt provided with/an expansible' joint and'havingpermanently associated therewith means for maintaining clear the airspace of said joint. Another object is to provide a road jointconstruction comprising dowels having novel sup portingmeans-associated" therewith.

Another object is to provide a new form of end sleeve for concrete roaddowels. v

Another object is to provide new forms of longitudinal constructionjoints both for full width and half width road construction.

Another object is to provide novelroad marking construction means.Another object is to provide simple and emcient-road construction meansof the kind dc- I associated I between the ends of the concrete slabsassociated spaced parallel adjacency.

novel structure associated with said end closing 22 of Fig. 1, theconcrete normally associatedwith the transverse joint construction beingshown as poured.

' Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on'the 1ine 33 of Fig. 1. f

Fig. 41s a perspective view of the dowel supporting strip of thisinvention and of the strip supporting chair, the strip being shownfragmentally.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the supporting chair.

Fig. 6 is across sectional view similar to th central portion of Fig. 3and showing a modified form of the longitudinal joint channel means ofthis invention. r

Fig. '7 is a fragmental perspective view showing a transverse joint endclosure, a portionof the usual road edge form being-shown in itsrelationship with said joint means.

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmental views showing a modified form of the wallspacing means of the transverse expansion joint.

Fig. 10 is a fragmental elevational view of the transverse jointconstruction having associated therewith an end shoe.'

Fig. 11- is a fragmental plan view of the plate associated with-thejoint forming means of this invention.

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view taken on the line -42 of Fig. 11.

to preclude buckling of the road slabs upon expansion of the concrete.

.Heretofore, however, the maintenance of a so called air space betweenthe ends of adjacent concrete slabs has been defeated by the entry offoreign material, such as gravel, mastic, bits ofconcrete, and the like,into said air space so that the latter ultimately has become filled upand the buckling above referred to, and the consequent injury of theroad, have resulted. The present invention provides for the insertion ofa permanent nonferrous plate slidably disposed in grooves provided in'the opposed edges of adjacent concrete slabs and extending'across thespace between the slabs for maintaining thelatter permanently clear.

The stresses, tensions and strains that the plate is to be subject tomay be accurately gauged" under modern methods and a plate ofproportionate strength provided. The plate is slidably disposed in itsgrooves so as to afford room for expansion of the concrete slabs withwhich it is associated. Various other advantages, which obviatediflicultics heretofore experienced, are provided by this invention,such as the provision of yieldable wall spacing means which ofler nohindrance to proper expansion and contraction movements of the slabs;the provision of novel and permanent road marking means, etc.

With reference to the drawings: The transverse expansion joint form ofthis invention comprises a pair of walls and 2|, Fig. 2, adapted toprovide end forms for adjacent concrete slabs. The walls alongtheirbottom edges are formed with double interfitting flanges 22 and 23 forholding the walls in upright position. -The walls are yieldably held inspaced adjacency by means of a plurality of depressed portions 24projecting toward one another in pairs and having their apexes suitablyconnected together, as at 25, such as by spot welding. The depressedportions on one of the walls are covered, on the outer face of saidwall, by a suitable cover member 25 which may be in the form of a plateprovided with outwardly depressed portions 21 similar to those of thewall member and adapted to be positioned directly outside of theassociated depressed portions 24 and 25 for maintaining said walldepressions, and a space therebehind, empty of concrete, as seen in Fig.2.

The walls 20 and 2|, adjacent their tops, are formed to provide a pairof opposed groove members 28 and 29 extending longitudinally of thewalls and into the slab ends to provide opposed shelves for supporting aplate such as 32. The extreme top edge portions of the walls are formedinwardly above said groove members to provide a restricted way 30 andthe top edges of the walls may be turned outwardly to form key orlooking flanges 3|.

A permanent non-ferrous plate 32 is slidably positioned in the groovemembers 28 and 29 and is adapted to extend across the space between thewalls 20 and 2| for maintaining clear the space beneath the plate. Thisplate has associated therewith means for spacing the body of the platefrom the sides of the groove members. These means may compriseindentations 33 formed in the groove members 28 and 29 and bearingagainst the positioned plate 32. In addition to these means, the plateitself may be formed with laterally projecting cars 34, (Figs. I1

and 12) provided at intervals along the plate and adapted to contact thesides of the groove members to space the plate body therefrom. The ears34 may be conveniently formed by a stamping operation.

An inverted channel member 35 is adapted to be snugly received in therestricted way 30 provided at the top of the walls. The upper surface ofthe channel is adapted to extend in the same plane as the road surfaceand the bottom edges of said channel may rest upon the positioned plate32.

The end closure means associated with the walls 20 and 2| comprise, asseen in Figs. 7 and 10, a pair of vertical opposed groove members 36which may be integral with the walls 28 and 2| and which are formedsimilarly to the horizontal groove members already described, includingthe extreme end edge portions 37 which form a vertical restrictedpassage. The horizontal and vertical groove members may connect andcommunicate with one another as indicated in Fig. 10, but in Fig.7 thecorner portions of these groove members are shown as broken away toreveal the vertical plate 38 slldably disposed in the groove members 38in the same manner as the plate 32'is positioned. Vertical plate 38 maybe an integral right angle extension of the plate 32. The same form ofmeans, including the indentations and ears above described may beutilized for spacing the plate 38 from the sides of its groove members.

The horizontal channel member 35 may be connected, such as by spotwelding 39 (Fig. 7) with a vertical channel member 40 which isreceivable between the portions 31 of the vertical closure means and incontact against the plate 38. The top of the vertical channel member 40is formed with a notch 4| within which a small closure plate 42 may beinserted. A cap 43 is adapted to be positioned over the notch 4| for apurpose to be later described.

When the wall structure above disclosed is to be operatively positioned,the walls are set up and preferably retained in position by suitablestakes 44 (Figs. 1 and 2) which contact the wall members laterallythereof. As will be later described, the concrete is adapted to bepoured up to the level of the top of channel member 35, the usual roadedge form 45 (Figs. 1 and 7) being provided at the end of the transversejoint means. It will be seen that the horizontal and vertical groovemembers are adapted to form grooves in the concrete so that, after along period of time, should all the remaining portions of the transverseexpansion form disintegrate or corrode, the permanent structural plates32 and 38 will yet be positioned in the grooves of the concrete andcontinue to perform their function of excluding foreign material fromthe expansion space between the adjacent slabs of concrete. It willfurther be seen in Fig. 2 that the uncovered depressed portions 24 ofthe wall 28 become filled with concrete whereas the similar members ofthe opposite wall are maintained empty and are crushable by theassociated filled depressed members when the concrete expands wherebyany interference with such expansion movement is obviated. As aboveindicated, the channel members 35 and 40 are positioned before thepouring. of the concrete. After initial hardening of the latter, thechannel members are removed and the resultant road surface and road edgechannels are filled withmastic or similar joint forming media. Themastic flows down into groove members 28, 28, and 36 and seals the edgesof the positioned plates 32 and 38, so that, in reality, the expansionspace between the walls 20 and 2| are waterproof as well as proofagainst the entry of dirt, gravel, and the like. It may be here remarkedthat the permanent structural plates 32 and 33 permit of worn masticbeing scraped out of the joints of the channels so that fresh mastic maybe poured in.

With reference to Fig. 7 it may now be explained that the notch 4| atthe top of the end channel 40 is adapted to permit the passage of thewheel flange of the usual road machinery which is moved along theroadway after the concrete has been poured, the wheel running on the topedge of the road edge form 45. The cap 43 is removed to permit thepassage of the wheel and is replaced immediately thereafter, asindicated by the small arrow in connection with the cap in Fig. 7. Thelower portions of the cap are snugly receivable between the extremityportions of the wall members. It will be noted that the outer edge ofthe vertical channel member 40 is slightly spaced from the road edgeform 45. A slight quantity of concrete enters between this edge and theroad edge form and is denoted as the "mastic closure. This smallquantity of concrete readily crushes and shears out duringthe initialexpansion of the associated road slabs.

Further reference will now be made to Fig. 10

for the purpose of explainingthat the present invention provides for theoptional use, in con-v joints, a plurality of dowels which assist inmaintaining equal levels of the adjacent road slabs. .In Figs. 1 and 2,these dowels are shown at 46. They project through suitable sleeves 41in the walls 20 and 2|. These sleeves are of weakened material whichprovides no obstacle to the expansion of the walls. tained in parallelrelationship with the subgrade and pavement axis and'for this purposethere are provided at the outer ends of the dowels, accord ing to thisinvention,transversely extending support strips 48 which may be of rightangle form as shown. The strips 48 may be provided at intervals withupwardly struck lugs 49 (Fig. 4) and these lugs may be bent toward oneanother adjacent their tops so as to snugly engage the ends of thedowels, In, order that the dowels will not befixed in place so as to beprecluded from movement during expansion of the slabs, one end of eachdowel may be provided with a sleeve 50 (Figs. 1 and 13). Each sleeve 50hasone closed end and its sides may be slotted as shown at 5|.

to permit of expansion of the lateral portions of the sleeve. Aninverted thimble member 52 may be positioned inside the sleeve andagainst which the end of the associated dowel may contact.

The thimble is crushable against the closed end of the sleeve duringlongitudinal movement of the central portions of the sleeves may beprovided with a plurality of longitudinally slitted sections 8| which,at the time of installation, lie in the same plane as the end portionsof the sleeves,

but which, upon expansion of the concrete slabs, are adapted to buckleoutwardly as illustrated in Fig. 9, whereby interference with suchexpansion and with the resultant movement of the dowels 46, isprecluded.

For upholding the support strips 48- there are provided according tothis invention, a plurality of chairs. The strips 48 on oneside of theexpansion form is adapted to be supported by the type of chair seen inFig. 4; This consists of a sheet of 'metal bent upon itself atsubstantial rightangles and set upright to provide a pair of legs 53.The bottom edge portions of the legs may be formed into flanges forproviding feet .54. The

The dowels must be mainupper edges of the legs. 53 may be notched as at55 for the reception of a support strip'48, the material of said notchesbeing'preferably bent down as at 56 whereby seats for the strip 48'areformed.

The chairs of this type are the ones initially positioned andare adaptedto assume anjinterfitting or interlocking relationship with theassociated support strip 48. The chairs may, alternatively,

Since theopposite support strip, after positioning of the first one asdescribed, is preferably not raised, there may be provided inaccordancewith this invention a modifiedform of support chair 51, seenin'Fig'. 5. This chairls formedsimilarly to the one described exceptthat the greater portions of the top edges of the leg members, are bentdown to provide the seats 58, the outer ex tremity of each of theseedges being-formed with the upward extension 59. It is apparent that 7these chairs may be slidably inserted beneath the support strip they areintended to uphold, the extensions 59 serving as stops for limiting suchinsertion.

pansion' joint means already described likewise provides for novel formsof longitudinal joint means whichare illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, and 6.In Fig. 3 is seen thetype of longitudinal joint form which is. adaptedto be utilized with full road width construction, that is, when a fullwidth of road and, the concrete therefor is positioned at one time. Theform comprises a wall 62 which is preferably of irregularformation, suchas zigzag, in cross section so that the concrete slabs formed againstthe wall interlock to preclude buckling of the slabs. The wall 62 isformed with a bottom flange or foot 63. Astrengthening strip -'l9 may besecured'vertically .to the wall 62 at intervals. At the top, the wallhas means associated therewith for forming a longitudinally extendingway 64. These means may comprise the outwardlyandupwardlybent section 65of the wall the wall, adjacent the top-thereof. A pair .of

inwardly directed opposed beads 61 are preferably formed in the way 64and beneath which beads a permanent plate 68 of nonferrous material isposi-' tioned. The way 64 is adapted to receive an invertedchannel'member 69 which is positioned prior to the pouring of theconcrete and subsea longitudinal road surface channel adaptedfor thereception of road marking mastic or the like.

It is apparent in Fig. 3 that the plate 68 extends transversely of thewall 62 and of the concrete joint formed by this wall whereby the entryof any foreign material into the joint is precluded by the plate; Theroad surface channel resulting after removal of a channel member 69'from the set chinery wheel, in a manner previously suggested.

- Similarly to the plate of the transverse joint, the

plate 68 permits the'mastic in the road surface channel to be-scrapedout and replaced without generally to-the wall 62' and which may bestrengthened atintervals by suitable strips ll.

be shop welded to the associated support strips.

concrete permitsi'the passage of the road ma- The way 12 and plate I3are likewise similar in form and function to those describedinconnection with Fig. 3. The channel member 14, however, may be formedwith double flange sides 15 which are adapted to frictionally engage thelateral portions of the way 12. Between the double flange sides I5,there is provided the enlarged groove adapted to accommodate and permitpassage of the flange of the road machinery. It may be explained, thatin the half road width construction here under consideration, the usualroad edge form 45 is positioned centrally of the roadway so as to givesupport to the road machinery wheels and to the initially formedconcrete slab. Accordingly, it is necessary to provide the modifled typeof channel means just described in order to accommodate the machinerywheel and to prevent the entry of foreign material into the way 12. Whenboth halves of the road have been poured, the channel member 14 isremoved and the resultant road surface channel filled with mastic.

The dowel 16, Fig. 6, it may be explained incidentally, is bent andinserted into the ground at one end as at 11 and into parallelism withthe form 45, as at 18. Before the concrete is poured, theend I1- is bentup into its proper horizontal position, and after the removal of theform 45 the end 18 is bent outwardly to be incorporated in the adjacentconcrete slab to be poured.

It will be seen in Fig. 1 that the longitudinal joint may likewise havethe dowels and associated support strips and chairs associated therewithsimilarly to the transverse expansion joint, as already described inconnection with the latter.

With further reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the interflttingbottom flanges 22 and 23 may be formed to accommodate a closure orsealing strip 83 (shown in dotted lines) which may be of copper andwhich permanently precludes entry of foreign matter between the walls202l, at the bottom, it being understood that said flanges, alone,provide an overlapped sliding arrangement for preventing such entrywhile the subgrade and slabs are reaching equilibrium. Moreover, ifmastic sealing, similar to that disclosed at the wall tops and ends, isdesired, the same kind of construction at the bottom may be used, with aprecast mastic mold.

In connection with Fig. 1, it may be pointed out that an eificientmanner of assuring parallelism of the dowels 46 with the axis of thepavement is to provide the dowel support strips 48 of such length as tofit snugly between the road rails or forms.

Finally, it is obvious that if it should be desirable in a givenconstruction, such as a multi-lane highway, to utilize the transverseexpansion joint means herein disclosed as longitudinal joints, such useand construction would fall well within the purview and scope of thepresent invention, as well as other modifications that readily suggestthemselves upon consideration of the means herein disclosed.

What is claimed is:

1. A transverse expansion joint form for concrete roads and comprising apair of walls disposed in parallel spaced adjacency, means associatedwith the walls for forming a mastic road surface joint and formaintaining clear the space between the walls below said joint, andmeans for forming an end joint contiguous with said road surface joint,the end joint means comprising a pair of vertical opposed groove membersadjacent the ends of said walls, a plate receivable in the grooves ofsaid groove members and closing the space between said walls at theirends for precluding entry of foreign material past said plate into saidspace, and anend joint form adapted to be received between the extremeends of the walls in contact against said plate.

2. A transverse expansion joint form for concrete roads and comprising apair of walls disposed in parallel spaced adjacency, a pair of opposedlongitudinally extending groove members provided adjacent the top of thewalls, a similar pair of opposed vertically extending groove membersprovided adjacent the ends of the walls and connecting and communicatingwith the longitudinal groove members, a continuous plate receivable inthe grooves of said groove members and closing the space between thewalls for maintaining clear the space under the plate, and an invertedchannel form receivable between the extreme top and end portions of thewalls outside said plate and adapted to form road edge and surfacechannels for the reception of joint-forming mastic.

3. A transverse expansion joint form for concrete roads and comprising apair of walls'disposed in parallel spaced adjacency, means associatedwith the walls for forming a mastic road surface joint and formaintaining clear the space between the walls below said joint, andmeans for forming an end joint contiguous with said road surface joint,the end joint means comprising a pair of vertical opposed groove membersadjacent the ends of said walls, a plate receivable in the grooves ofsaid groove members and closing the space between said walls at theirends for precluding entry of foreign material past said plate into saidspace, an end joint form adapted to be received between the extreme endsof the walls in contact against said plate; said end joint form beingprovided at the top with a notch adapted to accommodate and permitpassage of the rim of a road machinery wheel, and a cap adapted to coversaid notched portion and to be positioned after passage of said wheel.

4. In a concrete joint unit, the combination of a pair of road slabsdisposed in slightly spaced end-to-end relationship and provided intheir opposed edges with a pair of opposed grooves extendinglongitudinally of said edges adjacent the top surface of the slabs, saidslab edges being likewise provided adjacent the sides of the slabs witha pair of opposed vertical grooves communicating with said longitudinalgrooves, and a continuous plate comprising an elongated sectionreceivable in said longitudinal grooves and a short section receivablein said vertical grooves, said plate forming with the slab edges a roadsurface channel and a road edge channel for receiving joint-formingmastic, said plate maintaining clear the space between the slabs underthe plate.

5. In a transverse expansion joint for concrete roads, a pair ofoppositely disposed walls each formed with a plurality of spaceddepressed portions projecting toward and connected to the like portionsof the opposite wall for holding the walls in spaced adjacency toprovide end forms for adjacent concrete slabs, and hollow outwardlyprojecting cover members disposed on the outer face of one of the wallsand covering the depressed portions thereof for maintainingconcrete-free areas therebehind, the concrete-filled depressed portionsof the opposite wall being adapted, upon expansion of the concreteslabs, to crush said empty depressed portions and enter said tree areasto permit expansion movement oi the walls.

6. The combination with a transverse expansion joint unit for concrete.roads and comprising a pair of oppositely disposed walls and-dowelsassociated therewith, of a plurality of short tubes attached to andextending between and through the walls providing sleeves for slidablereception of the dowels, said tubes being formed with central weakenedportions rendering the tubes collapsible to provide for unhinderedexpansion of the concrete slabs associated with the unit, and means formaintaining said walls in spaced relationship, and comprising aplurality of integral inwardly depressed buttons on each wall, saidbuttons being in pairs connected together, and an outer plate coveringthe depressions of one wall, to form confined air spaces into which thebuttons of the other wall may enter upon crushing of the buttons whichform said spaces.

'7. In a transverse road expansion joint unit, the combination of wallmeans providing end forms for adjacent concrete slabs, dowels projectingthrough the wall means at intervals, a pair oi! support stripsextendingtransversely of the dowels at opposite ends thereof, means onthe strips for engaging the ends of the dowels, and means to supportsaid strips for holding the dowels parallel with the road surface, saidmeans comprising a series of chair members associated in interlockingrelationship with one of the support strips, and a second series ofchair members designed to be slidably inserted beneath the other stripafter positioning of said first series.

8. A longitudinal joint structure iorhalf width concrete roadconstruction and comprising a wall form, means at the top of the wallproviding a longitudinally extending way, a plate disposed in said wayand extending transversely oi! the wall and the concrete joint formedthereby, and a channel member asociated with and covering said way, thechannel member providing a road surface depression for receiving andpermitting pas sage of the wheel flange of road'machinery, said memberfurther forming with said plate a road surface channel adapted, afterremoval of the channel member, to receive mastic or other road markingmedia, and said plate maintaining clear said joint upon contraction ofthe concrete.

9. An end sleeve for concrete road dowels and consisting of a tubularmember closed at one end and slotted laterallyto provide for expansionof the sides, and an inverted thimble member receivable in the sleeveand crushable in the closed end thereof upon longitudinal movement ofthe dowel with which the sleeve is associated.

10. In a spacer form for positioning between adjacent concrete slabs inthe process of formation, the combination of three sheets of material,two of the sheets each having a face of one in contact upon a face ofthe other and each having a plurality of registering buttons formedtherein and projecting outwardly from said contacting sheets whereby toprovide a plurality of hollow chambers between the sheets, and the thirdsheet having similar buttons formed therein and having said buttons heldin contact with the buttons of one of the said two sheets having theirfaces in contact, whereby to space the third sheet from said two sheetsand whereby, upon formation of concrete slabs at opposite sides of saidassembled three sheets, registering concrete buttons and pocketstherefor are formed in spaced relation in the adjacent concrete slabs.

11. A transverse expansion joint form for concrete roads and comprisinga pair of walls disposed inparallel spaced adjacency, a pair of opposedlongitudinally extending groove members provided adjacent the top of thewalls, a similar pair of opposed vertically extending groove membersprovided adjacent the ends of the walls and connecting and communicatingwith the longitudinal groove members, an integral continuous platereceivable in the grooves of said groove members and closing the spacebetween the walls for maintaining clear the space under the plate,

an inverted channel form receivable between the extreme top and endportions of the walls outside said plate and adapted to form road edgeand surface channels for the reception of joint-forming mastic, and asealing strip closing the space between the walls at the bottom thereof.

SAMUEL

